Campbell adds voice, not blood, to Rio dengue fight

RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - Supermodel Naomi Campbell
visited a Rio de Janeiro blood donor center on Tuesday to
support the fight against a dengue fever epidemic but her offer
to give blood was rejected.

Campbell said she was turned down because she had surgery
in February, when she was rushed to a hospital in the Brazilian
city of Sao Paulo to have a cyst removed.

"Unfortunately I cannot give my blood to Rio ... but I will
be back, for sure," said the 37-year-old British model, a
frequent visitor to Brazil because of her role as Rio good-will
"ambassador" and a reported Brazilian fiance.

Campbell, wearing a white "Rio Against Dengue" T-shirt,
went on to advise Rio residents on how to combat the outbreak,
which has killed about 50 people and made nearly 60,000 sick in
the city.

At least 80 people have died of the mosquito-borne disease
in Rio de Janeiro state although there are signs that the
outbreak is now under control with cases falling sharply and
smaller lines of infected people outside clinics in the city.

The potentially fatal hemorrhagic form of dengue has left
hospitals facing a shortage of blood for transfusions.

Known for her fiery temper, Campbell hit the headlines last
week when she was escorted off an British Airways airplane in
London and arrested on suspicion of assaulting a police
officer. Media reports said she had been banned from flying
with BA.

"Absolutely TAM! I came on TAM," Campbell said when asked
how she had traveled to Brazil this time, referring to one of
Brazil's leading airlines.
Continued...